The Kabul–Kandahar Highway (NH0101) is 483-kilometer (300 mi) long that links Afghanistan 's two largest cities , Kabul and Kandahar . It starts from Dashte Barchi in Kabul and passes through Maidan Shar , Saydabad , Ghazni , and Qalat until it reaches Aino Mina in Kandahar. It is currently being rehabilitated at different locations. This highway is a key portion of Afghanistan's national highway system or "National Highway 1" . The entire highway between Kabul and Kandahar has no mountain passes but there are many mountains nearby in some places. Approximately 35 percent of Afghanistan's population lives within 50 km (31 mi) of the Kabul to Kandahar portion of the Afghanistan Ring Road .
45-730: The Kabul–Kandahar Highway is said to have been designed and asphalted in the 1960s by Afghan and American engineers under contracts with the United States International Cooperation Administration . This was a time when the Soviet Union and the United States were spreading their influence in Afghanistan. In those years the highway was mostly used by trucks and buses because private vehicles were very few when compared to
90-402: A binder. The abbreviation, AC , is sometimes used for asphalt concrete but can also denote asphalt content or asphalt cement , referring to the liquid asphalt portion of the composite material. Mixing of asphalt and aggregate is accomplished in one of several ways: In addition to the asphalt and aggregate, additives, such as polymers , and antistripping agents may be added to improve
135-555: A range of strategies for incorporating waste materials into asphalt concrete. The strategies presented in the study include the use of plastics, particularly high-density polyethylene, in asphalt binders, and the use of glass, brick, ceramic, and marble quarry waste in place of traditional aggregate. Rejuvenators may also be produced from recycled materials, including waste engine oil, waste vegetable oil, and waste vegetable grease. Recently, discarded face masks have been incorporated into stone mastic. Tarmacadam Tarmacadam
180-400: A trademark. As petroleum production increased, the by-product bitumen became available in greater quantities and largely supplanted coal tar. The macadam construction process quickly became obsolete because of the onerous and impractical manual labour required. The somewhat similar tar and chip method, also known as bituminous surface treatment (BST) or chipseal , remains popular. While
225-587: Is a concrete road surfacing material made by combining tar and macadam ( crushed stone and sand ), patented by Welsh inventor Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1902. It is a more durable and dust-free enhancement of simple compacted stone macadam surfaces invented by Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam in the early 19th century. The terms "tarmacadam" and tarmac are also used for a variety of other materials, including tar- grouted macadam, bituminous surface treatments and modern asphalt concrete . Macadam roads pioneered by Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam in
270-454: Is a maintenance measure that helps keep water and petroleum products out of the pavement. Maintaining and cleaning ditches and storm drains will extend the life of the road at low cost. Sealing small cracks with bituminous crack sealer prevents water from enlarging cracks through frost weathering, or percolating down to the subbase and softening it. For somewhat more distressed roads, a chip seal or similar surface treatment may be applied. As
315-776: Is a research program by the FHWA , which is specifically focusing on long-term pavement behaviour. Asphalt deterioration can include crocodile cracking , potholes , upheaval, raveling , bleeding , rutting , shoving, stripping , and grade depressions. In cold climates, frost heaves can crack asphalt even in one winter. Filling the cracks with bitumen is a temporary fix, but only proper compaction and drainage can slow this process. Factors that cause asphalt concrete to deteriorate over time mostly fall into one of three categories: construction quality, environmental considerations, and traffic loads. Often, damage results from combinations of factors in all three categories. Construction quality
360-630: Is another such terminal in Aino Mina in Kandahar, and one in the western end of that city which provides bus services to Lashkar Gah , Zaranj , Farah and Herat . The bus terminals are regulated by Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation . The Kabul–Kandahar Highway starts from Dashte Barchi in the western section of Kabul . It traverses the provinces of Kabul , Maidan Wardak , Ghazni , Zabul , and Kandahar . As of early 2004, Taliban fighters continued to harass travelers of
405-415: Is critical to pavement performance. This includes the construction of utility trenches and appurtenances that are placed in the pavement after construction. Lack of compaction in the surface of the asphalt, especially on the longitudinal joint, can reduce the life of a pavement by 30 to 40%. Service trenches in pavements after construction have been said to reduce the life of the pavement by 50%, mainly due to
450-473: Is found on interstate highways where maintenance is highly crucial. Asphalt concrete generates less roadway noise than a Portland cement concrete surface, and is typically less noisy than chip seal surfaces. Because tire noise is generated through the conversion of kinetic energy to sound waves , more noise is produced as the speed of a vehicle increases. The notion that highway design might take into account acoustical engineering considerations, including
495-420: Is why some agencies place the priority on preventive maintenance of roads in good condition, rather than reconstructing roads in poor condition. Poor roads are upgraded as resources and budget allow. In terms of lifetime cost and long term pavement conditions, this will result in better system performance. Agencies that concentrate on restoring their bad roads often find that by the time they have repaired them all,
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#1732779639683540-635: The Government of Afghanistan decided to rebuild and repair the highway. Work soon began in different provinces of the country where the highway passes. Construction of a toll plaza began in Kabul Province in late 2022. Another toll plaza is planned to be constructed in Kandahar Province. The Dashte Barchi bus terminus provides transport services to the provinces of Maidan Wardak , Bamyan , Ghazni , Daikundi and Ghor . There
585-406: The subsoil to see how much load it can withstand. The pavement and subbase thicknesses are designed to withstand the wheel loads. Sometimes, geogrids are used to reinforce the subbase and further strengthen the roads. Drainage, including ditches , storm drains and underdrains are used to remove water from the roadbed, preventing it from weakening the subbase and subsoil. Sealcoating asphalt
630-480: The 1820s are prone to rutting and generating dust. Methods to stabilise macadam surfaces with tar date back to at least 1834 when John Henry Cassell, operating from Cassell's Patent Lava Stone Works in Millwall , England , patented "lava stone." This method involved spreading tar on the subgrade , placing a typical macadam layer, and finally sealing the macadam with a mixture of tar and sand. Tar-grouted macadam
675-541: The Department of Transportation to incorporate crumb rubber into asphalt paving materials. Other recycled materials that are actively included in asphalt concrete mixes across the United States include steel slag, blast furnace slag, and cellulose fibers. Further research has been conducted to discover new forms of waste that may be recycled into asphalt mixes. A 2020 study conducted in Melbourne, Australia presented
720-472: The Republic of Ireland) is a composite material commonly used to surface roads , parking lots , airports , and the core of embankment dams . Asphalt mixtures have been used in pavement construction since the beginning of the twentieth century. It consists of mineral aggregate bound together with bitumen (a substance also independently known as asphalt), laid in layers, and compacted. The process
765-640: The Taliban. At least 35 persons died in September 2016 when a fuel tanker collided with a passenger bus. 32°06′43″N 66°02′48″E / 32.11203°N 66.04664°E / 32.11203; 66.04664 Asphalt concrete Asphalt concrete (commonly called asphalt , blacktop , or pavement in North America, and tarmac or bitumen macadam in the United Kingdom and
810-496: The United States contained, on average, 21.1% RAP and 0.2% RAS. Recycled asphalt components may be reclaimed and transported to an asphalt plant for processing and use in new pavements, or the entire recycling process may be conducted in-place. While in-place recycling typically occurs on roadways and is specific to RAP, recycling in asphalt plants may utilize RAP, RAS, or both. In 2019, an estimated 97.0 million tons of RAP and 1.1 million tons of RAS were accepted by asphalt plants in
855-579: The United States to set up small civilian-military teams in three locations along the route. These teams no longer exist. On May 8, 2016, a major vehicular crash killed at least 73 and injured over 50 people along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway in Moqor District of Ghazni Province . Two buses traveling from Kabul to Kandahar collided with a fuel tanker, causing a fiery inferno. The vehicles were reportedly speeding to avoid ambush by
900-534: The United States. RAP is typically received by plants after being milled on-site, but pavements may also be ripped out in larger sections and crushed in the plant. RAP millings are typically stockpiled at plants before being incorporated into new asphalt mixes. Prior to mixing, stockpiled millings may be dried and any that have agglomerated in storage may have to be crushed. RAS may be received by asphalt plants as post-manufacturer waste directly from shingle factories, or they may be received as post-consumer waste at
945-416: The United States. Many roofing shingles also contain asphalt, and asphalt concrete mixes may contain reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS). Research has demonstrated that RAP and RAS can replace the need for up to 100% of the virgin aggregate and asphalt binder in a mix, but this percentage is typically lower due to regulatory requirements and performance concerns. In 2019, new asphalt pavement mixtures produced in
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#1732779639683990-441: The asphalt to oxidize, becoming stiffer and less resilient, leading to crack formation. Cold temperatures can cause cracks as the asphalt contracts. Cold asphalt is also less resilient and more vulnerable to cracking. Water trapped under the pavement softens the subbase and subgrade, making the road more vulnerable to traffic loads. Water under the road freezes and expands in cold weather, causing and enlarging cracks. In spring thaw,
1035-451: The corridor. Afghan guards, soldiers, mercenaries, and workers have been killed along the route. In October 2003, they kidnapped a Turkish contractor, and that December they kidnapped two Indian workers. In February 2004, Taliban rebels shot down a Louis Berger Group helicopter , killing three. In March 2004, rebels murdered a Turkish engineer and an Afghan guard. Another Turkish engineer and an interpreter were kidnapped. This action prompted
1080-508: The end of their service life. Processing of RAS includes grinding the shingles and sieving the grinds to remove oversized particles. The grinds may also be screened with a magnetic sieve to remove nails and other metal debris. The ground RAS is then dried, and the asphalt cement binder can be extracted. For further information on RAS processing, performance, and associated health and safety concerns, see Asphalt Shingles . In-place recycling methods allow roadways to be rehabilitated by reclaiming
1125-691: The existing pavement, remixing, and repaving on-site. In-place recycling techniques include rubblizing , hot in-place recycling, cold in-place recycling, and full-depth reclamation . For further information on in-place methods, see Road Surface . During its service life, the asphalt cement binder, which makes up about 5–6% of a typical asphalt concrete mix, naturally hardens and becomes stiffer. This aging process primarily occurs due to oxidation, evaporation, exudation, and physical hardening. For this reason, asphalt mixes containing RAP and RAS are prone to exhibiting lower workability and increased susceptibility to fatigue cracking. These issues are avoidable if
1170-414: The friction course. In general, the viscosity of asphalt allows it to conveniently form a convex surface, and a central apex to streets and roads to drain water to the edges. This is not, however, in itself an advantage over concrete, which has various grades of viscosity and can be formed into a convex road surface. Rather, it is the economy of asphalt concrete that renders it more frequently used. Concrete
1215-400: The ground thaws from the top down, so water is trapped between the pavement above and the still-frozen soil underneath. This layer of saturated soil provides little support for the road above, leading to the formation of potholes. This is more of a problem for silty or clay soils than sandy or gravelly soils. Some jurisdictions pass frost laws to reduce the allowable weight of trucks during
1260-544: The highway was usable prior to the repairs. The rebuilding project was overseen by the Louis Berger Group , with assistance in planning and design by Turkish and Indian engineers. Phase one of paving was completed in December 2003 and the highway was opened to traffic. The journey from Kandahar to Kabul generally took travelers 18 hours but, since the rebuilding, has been shortened to roughly 6 hours. In 2022
1305-416: The lack of compaction in the trench, and also because of water intrusion through improperly sealed joints. Environmental factors include heat and cold, the presence of water in the subbase or subgrade soil underlying the pavement, and frost heaves. High temperatures soften the asphalt binder, allowing heavy tire loads to deform the pavement into ruts. Paradoxically, high heat and strong sunlight also cause
1350-498: The mix's rutting resistance while maintaining adequate fatigue cracking resistance. In mixes with higher recycled content, the addition of virgin binder becomes less effective, and rejuvenators may be used. Rejuvenators are additives that restore the physical and chemical properties of the aged binder. When conventional mixing methods are used in asphalt plants, the upper limit for RAP content before rejuvenators become necessary has been estimated at 50%. Research has demonstrated that
1395-409: The number, width and length of cracks increases, more intensive repairs are needed. In order of generally increasing expense, these include thin asphalt overlays, multicourse overlays, grinding off the top course and overlaying, in-place recycling, or full-depth reconstruction of the roadway. It is far less expensive to keep a road in good condition than it is to repair it once it has deteriorated. This
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1440-404: The pavement for controlling storm water. Different types of asphalt concrete have different performance characteristics in roads in terms of surface durability, tire wear, braking efficiency and roadway noise . In principle, the determination of appropriate asphalt performance characteristics must take into account the volume of traffic in each vehicle category, and the performance requirements of
1485-401: The performance aspects of RAP and RAS is to combine the recycled components with virgin aggregate and virgin asphalt binder. This approach can be effective when the recycled content in the mix is relatively low, and has a tendency to work more effectively with soft virgin binders. A 2020 study found that the addition of 5% RAS to a mix with a soft, low-grade virgin binder significantly increased
1530-564: The present time. In the 1980s, in addition to trucks and private vehicles, military convoys of the Soviet Union were often seen passing back and forth between Kabul and Kandahar. The highway began deteriorating in the 1990s. In late 2002 or early 2003, during the presidency of Hamid Karzai , the United States funded the repair and rebuilding of 389 km (242 mi) of road (at a cost of about $ 190 million), while Japan funded 50 km (31 mi). Only about 43 km (27 mi) of
1575-468: The properties of the final product. Areas paved with asphalt concrete—especially airport aprons —have been called "the tarmac" at times, despite not being constructed using the tarmacadam process. A variety of specialty asphalt concrete mixtures have been developed to meet specific needs, such as stone-matrix asphalt , which is designed to ensure a strong wearing surface, or porous asphalt pavements, which are permeable and allow water to drain through
1620-422: The recycled components are apportioned correctly in the mix. Practicing proper storage and handling, such as by keeping RAP stockpiles out of damp areas or direct sunlight, is also important in avoiding quality issues. The binder aging process may also produce some beneficial attributes, such as by contributing to higher levels of rutting resistance in asphalts containing RAP and RAS. One approach to balancing
1665-446: The road over a longer period of time, increasing ruts, cracking, and corrugations in the asphalt pavement. Other causes of damage include heat damage from vehicle fires, or solvent action from chemical spills. The life of a road can be prolonged through good design, construction and maintenance practices. During design, engineers measure the traffic on a road, paying special attention to the number and types of trucks. They also evaluate
1710-439: The road, and there was no rutting and no dust. Hooley's 1902 patent for tarmac involved mechanically mixing tar and aggregate before lay-down and then compacting the mixture with a steamroller . The tar was modified by adding small amounts of Portland cement , resin and pitch . Nottingham 's Radcliffe Road became the first tarmac road in the world. In 1903 Hooley formed Tar Macadam Syndicate Ltd and registered tarmac as
1755-421: The roads that were in good condition have deteriorated. Some agencies use a pavement management system to help prioritize maintenance and repairs. Asphalt concrete is a recyclable material that can be reclaimed and reused both on-site and in asphalt plants . The most common recycled component in asphalt concrete is reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). RAP is recycled at a greater rate than any other material in
1800-398: The selection of the type of surface paving, arose in the early 1970s. With regard to structural performance, the asphalt behaviour depends on a variety of factors including the material, loading and environmental condition. Furthermore, the performance of pavement varies over time. Therefore, the long-term behaviour of asphalt pavement is different from its short-term performance. The LTPP
1845-404: The spring thaw season and protect their roads. The damage a vehicle causes is roughly proportional to the axle load raised to the fourth power, so doubling the weight an axle carries actually causes 16 times as much damage. Wheels cause the road to flex slightly, resulting in fatigue cracking, which often leads to crocodile cracking. Vehicle speed also plays a role. Slowly moving vehicles stress
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1890-530: The use of rejuvenators at optimal doses can allow for mixes with 100% recycled components to meet the performance requirements of conventional asphalt concrete. Beyond RAP and RAS, a range of waste materials can be re-used in place of virgin aggregate, or as rejuvenators. Crumb rubber, generated from recycled tires, has been demonstrated to improve the fatigue resistance and flexural strength of asphalt mixes that contain RAP. In California, legislative mandates require
1935-506: The use of tar as a binding agent for his road designs, preferring free-draining materials (see the page Macadam ). In 1901, Edgar Purnell Hooley was walking in Denby , Derbyshire , when he noticed a smooth stretch of road close to an ironworks. He was informed that a barrel of tar had fallen onto the road and someone poured waste slag from the nearby furnaces to cover up the mess. Hooley noticed this unintentional resurfacing had solidified
1980-492: Was in use well before 1900 and involved scarifying the surface of an existing macadam pavement, spreading tar and re-compacting. Although the use of tar in road construction was known in the 19th century, it was little used and was not introduced on a large scale until the motorcar arrived on the scene in the early 20th century. Ironically, although John Loudon McAdam himself had been a supplier of coke for Britain's first Coal-Tar factory , he never in his own lifetime advocated for
2025-674: Was refined and enhanced by Belgian-American inventor Edward De Smedt . Edgar Purnell Hooley further enhanced the process in the UK where the term tar macadam, shortened to tarmac was coined, after the name of his company Tar Macadam (Purnell Hooley's Patent) Syndicate Limited derived from the combination of tar and Macadam gravel composite mixtures. The terms asphalt (or asphaltic ) concrete , bituminous asphalt concrete , and bituminous mixture are typically used only in engineering and construction documents, which define concrete as any composite material composed of mineral aggregate adhered with
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